DR Congo determined to reclaim territory from M23 rebels: Video
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reaffirmed its commitment to reclaiming areas occupied by the M23 rebel group as peace negotiations with Rwanda continue to falter.
Speaking at a press conference, senior Congolese officials accused Rwanda of undermining regional stability and backing the M23 rebellion, allegations Rwanda denies.
General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the Congolese army, emphasized the determination of loyalist forces to liberate occupied territories despite challenges. "Fights are continuing, and the loyalist forces are determined, once and for all, to liberate this part of the country, despite reinforcements from the terrorists and the regular Rwandan army who continue to pour into our territory," he said.
Patrick Muyaya, Minister of Communication and spokesperson for the Congolese government, sharply criticized Rwanda's leadership. "Rwanda is the empire of lies, and you regularly follow the slightly bipolar sides of its president, who today again ranted about enormities regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo. To sum up, what they want is to continue the process of pillage," he said, accusing Rwanda of profiting from resources stolen from Congolese soil.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner added that Rwanda is facing growing isolation on the international stage. "More and more voices are now being raised, disassociating themselves from Rwanda, which is now an isolated nation that must bear the political cost of its choices, including its decision not to attend the Luanda summit on December 15 and its refusal to participate constructively in peace efforts in the Great Lakes region," she said.
The DRC government has accused Rwanda of backing the M23, a claim supported by reports from United Nations experts and independent analysts. However, Rwanda has consistently denied these accusations. The AFP reports that President Paul Kagame has walked a fine line, neither admitting military involvement in the conflict nor distancing himself from the M23, instead framing the unrest as inseparable from the presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group with historical ties to the Rwandan genocide.